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Uber of Southeast Asia to Get Police Safety Training in Vietnam

Ha Nguyen

   HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM - It probably cannot quite be called the Uber
   for crime fighting.

   But that is the main public service mission now that the Uber of
   Southeast Asia, Grab Inc, has signed a memorandum of understanding to
   cooperate with the Vietnamese police.

   Under the MOU (Memorandom of Understanding), announced on Monday, the
   police in Ho Chi Minh City will provide training in self defense and
   criminal law to drivers, while Grab Inc. will also provide education so
   its drivers should know how to look out for signs of criminal behavior
   and report it to the police.

   The cooperation raises questions about the line between personal
   privacy and public safety, as well as about the appropriate role for a
   private company or private individual in terms of policing efforts.

   "We are honored to work together with the Police Department to actively
   contribute to the fight against crime and make the lives of every
   citizen safer day by day," Jerry Lim, the director of Grab Vietnam,
   said. "The coordination between the two parties not only contributes to
   ensure order and security in society but also protects the safety of
   Grab's driver partners and customers."

   Hotline
   The MOU also establishes a 24 hour hotline between the police and Grab
   Inc., a startup that bought out rival Uber's business in Southeast Asia
   last year. This comes after the alleged homicide of a Grab driver by
   two young men in the capital city of Hanoi. News of the alleged crime
   has attracted widespread attention and raised concerns of public
   safety.

   There is also some relevance in the new California law that Uber
   Technologies Inc., Lyft Inc., and other companies in the gig economy
   must recognize workers as employees with benefits, and not as
   independent contractors. While Grab Inc. is not covered by the
   California law, the ride hailing company has also emphasized that its
   drivers are not full time employees. That would make it unclear as to
   whether under the law it can require its drivers in Ho Chi Minh City to
   partake in the public safety training.

   Grab competes with Go-Viet, Be, and FastGo in Vietnam's ride hailing
   sector.

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